The Ethnoracial Diversity of Diabetes: Insights into Epidemiology, Genetics, Disease Management, and Personalized Therapies

A special issue of Journal of Personalized Medicine (ISSN 2075-4426). This special issue belongs to the section "Epidemiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 1686

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
1. Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Public Health Science, University of Miami School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
2. Department of Medical Clinic, University of Juiz de Fora, São Pedro, MG, Brazil
Interests: diabetes prevalence; cost of diabetes; diabetes care; diabetes management improvement; diabetes self-management education; diabetes mortality
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Diabetes mellitus exhibits marked disparities in prevalence, progression, and outcomes across ethnoracial populations, driven by complex interactions between genetic predisposition, environmental exposures, and social determinants of health. Understanding these differences is critical for advancing personalized medicine, as one-size-fits-all approaches often fail to address the unique biological and contextual needs of diverse groups. This Special Issue explores the multifaceted role of ethnoracial diversity in diabetes, spanning epidemiology, genetics, clinical management, and therapeutic innovation.

This issue highlights research that uncovers population-specific patterns in diabetes incidence, prevalence, frequency of complications, and modalities and outcomes of management; identifies genetic and epigenetic variants associated with disease risk or treatment response; and evaluates how cultural, socioeconomic, and structural factors influence disease frequency, care access, and adherence. Contributions may examine how ethnoracial diversity shapes pathophysiological pathways (e.g., insulin resistance and β-cell dysfunction) or impacts the efficacy of pharmacotherapies, lifestyle interventions, or precision screening tools, as well as the description and integration of epidemiological data, genomic insights, and real-world clinical experiences. This issue aims to bridge gaps in the ethnographic dimention of the frecuency diabetes, management outcomes, and personalized care for understudied populations.

We invite submissions of original research and reviews that advance our understanding of diabetes through the lens of ethnoracial diversity. Studies focusing on health disparities, population-specific biomarkers, or tailored interventions are particularly encouraged. Together, these contributions will inform strategies to improve prevention, management, and outcomes for all individuals, regardless of their background, by embedding diversity into the foundation of diabetes care and research.

Dr. Alberto Barcelo
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • diabetes disparities
  • ethnoracial diversity
  • genetic epidemiology
  • personalized therapy
  • health equity

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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17 pages, 571 KB  
Systematic Review
Population Heterogeneity of Diabetes in Indigenous Peoples of the Americas: A Systematic Scoping Review of the Existing Literature
by Alberto Barcelo, Roy Wong-McClure, Felicia Cañete, Ethel Santacruz, Noelia Cañete and Arise Garcia de Siqueira Galil
J. Pers. Med. 2026, 16(2), 116; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm16020116 - 14 Feb 2026
Viewed by 810
Abstract
Background: In the Americas, the number of people living with diabetes is expected to rise from 92 million in 2024 to 120 million by 2050. Indigenous populations may experience distinct biological, environmental, and sociocultural risk factors; however, they are often treated as a [...] Read more.
Background: In the Americas, the number of people living with diabetes is expected to rise from 92 million in 2024 to 120 million by 2050. Indigenous populations may experience distinct biological, environmental, and sociocultural risk factors; however, they are often treated as a homogeneous group in epidemiological research, and consolidated evidence on diabetes prevalence across diverse Indigenous populations remains limited. This scoping review examines the prevalence of diabetes among Indigenous populations in the Americas. Methods: Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, we conducted a systematic scoping review of population-based studies reporting the prevalence of diabetes among Indigenous adult populations in the Americas. Searches were performed in PubMed and Scopus. Collected data included study location, Indigenous group, population characteristics, diagnostic criteria, and test used and reported prevalence estimates. Results: Sixty documents encompassing 73 studies met the inclusion criteria, representing 45,503 individuals from 16 countries between 1975 and 2025. The total number of ethnic groups represented was 111, and 12 studies did not identify a specific ethnic group. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) was the most frequently used diagnostic method, followed by the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Estimates of the prevalence of diabetes varied widely across populations, regions, and time periods. Five studies—from Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Paraguay—did not identify any cases of diabetes. Among studies reporting cases, prevalence ranged from 1 to 70% in North America, 5 to 14% in Central America, and 1 to 29% in South America. Conclusions: The prevalence of diabetes among Indigenous populations varied widely across the region, with substantially higher estimates reported in North America than in Central and South America. The decline in published studies in recent years suggests reduced research attention to this topic. The marked heterogeneity identified in this review underscores the need for standardized measurement approaches to support population-specific strategies aligned with personalized care and precision public health. Full article
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